Our Mickey and Minnie Adventure!

This past January, February and March Rob was doing alot of traveling for work.  The middle of February through the first of March he had three out of town meetings literally back to back with no time to come home in between.  He went from Salt Lake City to New Jersey, from New Jersey to Florida and from Florida to California.  So I decided if I was going to see him during those weeks I would have to meet up with him at one of his stops.  His week long meeting in Florida was being held at the Grand Floridian on the Disney Property so I decided that would be the ideal place for me to join him.  Unfortunately when Rob is traveling for business I am alone during the day and only get to see him for a few hours in the evening.  So with that being said, I enlisted my sweet little "Utah" Mom to come along with me for a Mickey and Minnie Adventure.

Carole was married for 60 years and her husband just passed away this past November.  Carole has never done much traveling (besides to Alaska where her sister lives and California where her son lives) so it was exciting to take her to Florida and to see Disney World through her eyes.  And I have to admit, I forget that Carole is 74 because she has more energy than I do!!

We had a blast!! We went to the Animal Kingdom Park.

To Epcot

And to MGM Studio

We got to join Rob and the rest of the attendees of the meeting for dinner with Mickey at the Aquarium at Epcot.

And Carole was even able to get a kiss from Rob....which he doesn't give freely!!!

My family is so lucky to have Carole in our life.  She is a great stand-in for my own Mom that lives so far away and she spoils us all rotten!! I am looking forward to our next trip together - hopefully this fall we will get to go to Alabama so she can meet all my Alabama family and see where I grew up.

What Happens at TamTam's & Poppa's Stays at TamTam's & Poppa's

I have such fond memories of growing up close to my Grandparents.  Everyone use to tease me that I stayed at there house more than I stayed at my own home and I was just fine with that.  They made me feel loved and special and I am pretty sure I got almost anything I wanted from them too!!  So when Rob and I became grandparents we decided that we wanted our home to be one where our grandkids bugged their parents to take them and sleepovers were held on a regular bases.  We know from experience that things can be replaced but memories cannot so there is really not much off limits from the Coopster and baby Graham at our house.

So when Cooper decided that the pantry was a fun play house for him we said, "go for it"!  One evening after having a bath and while the "adults" were chatting (meaning he was unsupervised) he decided to take the box of corn starch and pour it all over himself and the pantry.  Our first thoughts when we first saw him, after laughing of course, was to find the camera!

The little cornstarch foot prints were adorable as was the cornstarch all over his cute little body!

Poppa cleaned the pantry and Cooper was so willing to help Poppa clean up his little mess (have I mentioned that he loves to follow his Poppa around).  We did explain to him that he really should not dump things out of boxes but you know what.... if he does it again we will grab the camera, clean up the mess and give him a big hug......

....because what happens at TamTam and Poppa's stays at TamTam and Poppa's!!!!!

I am in love...

 ..with the most adorable 1 month old boy in the world!!!  The first few weeks of Graham's life I had pneumonia and was not able to be around him but I have tried to make up for it since I got better!!

 He is just perfect in all ways!!

 When Jared was born Rob bought him a lion (Jared slept with that lion for years).  Later Jared got another lion (his name was Protector), so he had two lions to keep him company at nights.  So Poppa kept the tradition going and bought Graham his very own lion when he was born.  This pictures is Graham with the two generations of lions.

Jared and Cass are the most amazing parents.  Jared is already an over protective Dad and Cass is the most loving Mother.  Graham is very blessed to have them as parents.

We are so excited to have Graham Curtis Olsen in our family!!

Baby Graham is Here!

Graham Curtis Olsen

8 lbs 4 oz.

22 inches

Born 8 AM

February 9, 2012

My Personal Pain Philosophy

For the past two weeks I have been pretty much bed ridden with a herniated disc.  The best way to describe a herniated disc is to compare it to two jelly filled donuts.  You take the two jelly filled donuts and put a 5 pound weight on the top of them and the jelly will start oozing out of the bottom donut - that is pretty much what happens when you have a herniated disc.

My doctor has been great and has tried several things to help alleviate the pain, including large amounts of Prednisone, an epidural and a cortisone shot, but unfortunately nothing has taken the pain away.  As long as I am laying down I feel pretty good but as soon as I stand I feel like my back is going to snap into.

So with all the above being said I do not want to be a complainer, a moaner or a whiner because it really does not do any good and does not make you feel better.  Right?!?!  My dad is my example of someone who endured and did not complain.  My Dad suffered many years with cancer and he never complained once about what he was going though.  I remember being with my Dad the day before he passed away and I asked him how he was feeling and I will always remember what he said despite the incredible pain he was in, "I'm feeling pretty good TamBo."  Everyone enjoyed being around my Dad because he was so upbeat and that is the way I want people to feel when they are around me.

So on this beautiful February day,  I'm feeling pretty good!!

Chinese New Year 2012

My friend Jennifer owns a Chinese restaurant named the Dragon Isle.  One of our newest yearly traditions is to go for Chinese New Year. 

For Chinese New Year's two dragons come to the restaurant, drums are played and the dragon dances around the tables.  If you feed the dragon money you will be granted good luck for that year (and I must admit it has worked for us)!

This year Rob was able to go with us since last year he was in New Jersey...

Also Bran, Dave and Mr. Coopster...

Carole and our sweet friend Diane came as Carole's date (Alma came with us last year)...

As well as Sarah, Emerson and Dawson (we missed Chris, but he was at work).....

And we brought first timers Heidi and baby Logan (his daddy was at work too)....

As well as Jared and a very pregnant Cassidy (who is due to have baby Graham any time now).

But unfortunately as soon as the dragon showed his not so cute face Cooper decided to do the same thing he did last year....



Scream to the point that he had to be taken out of the restaurant!!!!  Hopefully Cooper will have better LUCK next year!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Vineyard Vinyl is the Best!!!

Brandy has an adorable friend, Kristy, that has her own vinyl business.  So when we moved into our new home I enlisted her help in decorating Cooper and Graham's bedroom and also the playhouse we had built for them in our family room.  I think they turned out so cute that I had to share them on my blog!!

Since we lived in Hawaii (Brandy was born in Honolulu and IS Hawaiian you know) we decided to decorate the grand kid bedroom in a Hawaiian theme.

Kristy made a palm tree for us.....

 ...and surf boards with every ones name on it.

 She did not make the Haleiwa sign (in case you have not been to Oahu, Haleiwa is home to the best shave ice on the Island  - minus the kidney beans of course).  We bought the sign on our last trip!

I found this pillow on line and it was a must have to complete the room - don't you agree??

For the playhouse we decided to go with a fire station theme since we have (or will have shortly) two little firemen running around our house.  I think Kristy did an AMAZING job designing this!!!!

If you are interested in having her help design anything for you check out her etsy site, Vineyard Vinyl.  Her prices are reasonable and she does a great job, as you can tell!!!!

Happy 2012!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year's!!  Well as you can tell I have not been the best at blogging this past year (in my defense we have had a VERY busy year) so I thought I would give you a recap of what has happen with us during 2011.

In February we celebrated Cooper's 1st birthday!  He is definitely the light of his TamTam and Poppa's world.

Cooper having his birthday cupcake

In March we went to Disney World with Jared and Cassidy.  Unfortunately I did not take any pictures so I have none to share with you. It was Cassidy's first time so we had a blast!  Also in March I went with Rob to San Diego - him for business and me a little sunshine!

In May we put our home on the market and it sold after FIVE short days of being listed and we closed the loan 14 days after we listed it.  Fortunately the couple who bought it were kind enough to let us rent it back from them for the month of June while we decided exactly where we were going to move.

We lived here for 24 years

The first of May (a day after we put our house up for sale) Rob, my friend Myrna and I went to Alabama to surprise my Mom for Mother's Day.  Myrna and I spent the week in Alabama but Rob was only able to spend a few days before flying back to Utah (and phoning me in Alabama to tell me we had sold our house).

Rob and Mother - we sure miss all the beautiful trees and "green"  they have in Alabama

Me and my brother

Myrna with Amy, Hollis and Sarah Todd standing in my Mom's front yard

The end of May we went to Hawaii with our wonderful little family to celebrate Jared's completion of his Master's Degree and mine and Rob's 32 wedding anniversary.  We rented a condo on Waikiki and had a blast showing Cassidy around our ole stoppin' grounds.  Unfortunately Cooper was not a fan of the ocean or the pool - that is definitely something we have to work on with him for our next trip to the Islands!!

Standing in front of the King Kamehamehai statue in Honolulu (thanks Mel for taking this picture)

The kids in front of Chinaman's Hat

In June my adorable niece Amy, her husband, Todd and three kids came to visit us.  Amy had been once before but her husband and kids had not so we delighted in showing them our beautiful state and the surrounding areas.  In one week we went to Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Snowbird, the Salt Flats, Park City, the Copper Mine, Temple Square - well to say the least it was a busy, fun week for us and it was also a wonderful distraction for me to keep my mind off our upcoming move!

In Yellowstone Park

Standing in front of the Salt Lake Temple

After we took my niece and her fam to the airport we came home and loaded up the moving vans and moved in with Brandy, Dave and Cooper for the next four months while we built a new home in South Jordan, Utah.  South Jordan is an up and coming area in the Salt Lake Valley, close to both our kids (we actually "like" our kids and love being close to them).

Also in June, at Father's Day dinner, Jared and Cassidy announced that we were going to have another "light" come into our home!  They are expecting a little boy the first of February.  We are so excited for baby Graham to join our family and to have another little one to spoil (isn't that what grandparents are suppose to do???).

Cassidy 8 months pregnant

In July I went with Rob to Mt. Laurel, New Jersey which is the headquarters for his company.  It was the most boring week of my life since there is not much to do in Mt. Laurel or the surrounding area.  I have assured Rob that I will not be going back with him again ( I even told his boss in New Jersey not to plan on us EVER moving back there, even though George really thinks I need to give it another try)!

In September Rob and I went to Phoenix for a few days and stayed at the Biltmore (it is a beautiful resort).  Once again business for him and "sun" for me.  It was a great trip!

Arizona has the most beautiful sun sets

In October we went to Ft. Lauderdale (yes, business/sun) but unfortunately there was NO sun for me!  It rained the entire time we were there.  We had a room on the beach and I got to lay on the bed and watch the rain pound the sand for four "glorious" days.

The first of November we moved into our new home.  I have decided that moving is hard work and I don't think I will be doing it again for a very, very long time!  I don't know what I would have done without Brandy because she has pretty much organized our entire house (when Rob can't find something I always suggest he call Bran).  She has missed her calling in life - she really should be a professional organizer because she is really good at it!

Our new home

The week before Thanksgiving my Utah "adopted" Dad past away.  He had experienced some health issues and memory loss for the past few years but his death still was very sudden.  I had the honor of being with him as he left this earth.  Rob was asked to conduct and speak at his funeral, I spoke at the funeral and Jared and Dave were pallbearers.  It was a hard week emotionally.

Celebrating Alma's birthday at his favorite restaurant, HoHo's

I was ready to boycott Christmas this year and be a Scrooge and not put up any decorations, but once again my little chicklets came to the rescue and made our home bright and festive for the holidays.  I know I have said it many time, and you will hear it many times in the future, but Rob and I were blessed with totally amazing kids (that includes Dave and Cassidy) that help us so much.

Christmas morning - as you can tell Santa spoiled us!

Graham even had his own stocking and Santa left him gifts as well (can you imagine what it will be like next year when he is actually here)!

Cooper did not know which toy to go to first....

...but I think he really liked the drum set!

So as you can tell 2011 was a busy year for us but it was also an exciting year.  I am so blessed to have the most amazing husband in the world and the most supportive kids on the planet.  And I never realized that being a TamTam could be as much fun as it has been.  I am grateful that Rob, Jared and Dave all have great jobs, that we have had no major health problems, that we are blessed with supportive friends and family and most of all I am grateful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Happy 2012 to each and every one of you that may read this!!!!

Labor Day with the Olsen's

Well I really getting ahead of myself - here I am blogging about Labor Day and I haven't even blogged about Memorial Day (and we had a pretty exciting Memorial Day if you ask me, but that to come later).  For the past several years we have started the summer off by renting a condo and going with the fam to Park City.  Well this past Memorial Day we had "other" places to be so we decided to end the summer by going to Park City for the Labor Day Weekend.  Usually the boys take off and go golfing and play tennis but we decided that a switch-a-roo was in order this year.  So the girls got up early on Saturday morning and headed to Swiss Days in Midway while the boys stayed behind and took care of the Coopster.  In addition to Swiss Days, we went to the outlet malls, strolled Main Street, ate at some wonderful restaurants, had some delicious home cooked meals prepared by Bran, watched movies and just relaxed!  It was a delightful Labor Day Weekend!!!

We reminisced about when we came last year-  Cooper was only three months old and just laid there!  This year you could not let him out of your sight!

 Of course TamTam and Poppa thought Cooper needed a special treat for this mountain resort (oh how we love spoiling our little boy) and what better than his own ATV (or as the southerners say - mule)....

 ...which he enjoyed driving on the slick wooden floors of the condo.

On our trip to Park City next year we will have a new little one around to entertain us.  Look how he/she is growing in his/her beautiful Mom's belly.  On a side note Rob and I were talking and I mentioned how nice it would be if Cass and Jared had a little boy since we have so many "boy" toys.  My sweet husband informed me he had no problem buying little girl toys and that he would be thrilled if he had a little granddaughter to spoil too!